Cheney Says Congress Failed in Detroit Rescue Effort

AP ^ | 21 Dec 2008 | AP

[BGHater]

Vice President Dick Cheney blamed Congress for failing to bail out the auto industry, saying the White House was forced to step in to save U.S. car companies.

In an interview broadcast Sunday, Mr. Cheney said the economy is in such bad shape that the car companies might not have survived without the $17.4 billion in emergency loans that President George W. Bush approved on Friday.

"The president decided specifically that he wanted to try to deal with it and not preside over the collapse of the automobile industry just as he goes out of office," Mr. Cheney said in an interview broadcast on "Fox News Sunday."

Lawmakers "had ample opportunity to deal with this issue and they failed," Mr. Cheney said. "The president had no choice but to step in."

Congress rejected an auto bailout package after many Republicans and some Democrats opposed it. Some said U.S. auto companies would be better off if they were required reorganize through bankruptcy.

Mr. Cheney leaves office Jan. 20 as one of the most powerful, if unpopular, vice presidents in recent history. He played a key role in many of Mr. Bush's major policy decisions and, in the interview, was unapologetic in his review of the past eight years.

[BGHater]

"Lawmakers "had ample opportunity to deal with this issue and they failed," Mr. Cheney said. "The president had no choice but to step in." "

[rabscuttle385]

Another RINO rears its ugly head.

[Abbeville Conservative]

Cheney’s mind turned to mush from too many years in DC.

[Abbeville Conservative]

I have really come to despise and hate this administration. Good riddance to garbage.

[tips up]

I really like Cheney, but I think he is all wrong on this issue. The Congress (at least the few conservative Republican members) did NOT fail. If anything, they were the voice of common sense and responsibility on this issue.

If the bailout was such a good idea, how about the administration articulate those ideas and make the case to the public?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Thanks Dick. I really feel much better knowing George is spending my money and not those sleazy Democrats in congress.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Another RINO rears its ugly head.

I got the impression his hands were tied, he had to say what he said.

JMO, I could be wrong.

[RC2]

The auto industry will kill itself if they keep their prices where they are. $50K for a Chrysler? $50K for a GM pickup? $50K for a Corvette, I can understand. The rest is thievery.

[eclecticEel]

The gift that keeps on giving! They don’t call him Dick “deficits-aren’t-a-problem” Cheney for nothing.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

The Ford Administration relics are heard from yet again in the Bush Administration. Bush has done a lot of good things in foreign policy and the War on Terror. He has been an absolute disaster on domestic economic and spending issues. He has severely undermined the conservative cause with his policies since a big chunk of America, with the prodding of the MSM< views him as “conservative” and thus, conservatives get tared with his Rockefeller Republican economic disasters and spending binges.

[McGruff]

I’m a BIG TIME Cheney fan but he’s wrong on this. Or maybe he’s just being loyal to his boss. knowing Dick I’d say it’s the second case.

[Made In The USA]

“Mr. Cheney leaves office Jan. 20 as one of the most powerful, if unpopular, vice presidents in recent history.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve been in corporate leadership positions for quite some time now... being popular is not the objective. I respect that we’re talking about a political position here, but I respect a leader holding to values and doing what is right moreso.

[avacado]

Isn’t a loan a bit different than Congress giving the auto industry the money?

[dmz]

I got the impression his hands were tied, he had to say what he said.

Really? Who in the administration can tell Cheney what he can and cannot say? GW? Doubtful.

[Psycho_Bunny]

"I have really come to despise and hate this administration. Good riddance to garbage"

Ya....I'm not going to miss this administration until late January.

[mad puppy]

“The president decided specifically that he wanted to try to deal with it and not preside over the collapse of the automobile industry ...”

Having ‘presided’ over so many other serious issues with a stunning LACK of action, NOW he wants to do something? Just 1 of those 17 billion $ and 2 simple pardons would have SOLVED the Southern border problem. The hard working Americans that live in the S.W. apparently haven't mismanaged the situation so poorly as to need a bailout.

Voted for him twice because conservatives had no real horse in the race.

[Abbeville Conservative]

I think we all feel that way as opposed to what’s coming in. It’s just a damn shame that we can’t get true conservatives in office and have to settle for these guys are the lesser of two evils.

[Las Vegas Ron]

GW? Doubtful.

No, I don't think anyone can "tell" Cheney what to say, but I think he would do it so as not to go against Bush in public, just not a classy thing to do to your boss, especially in politics.

[Leisler]

I don’t know if the TARP bailout, allows Paulson to do what he wants, as he see fits.

I think it does not.

If so, Bush/Cheney have acted unconstitutional.

So, we might as well get young, enthused Obama to be unconstitutional too.

What the heck, it’s just toilet paper now.

[Leisler]

Well, it's not as if we didn't see this idiocy coming.

[FrankR]

"Isn’t a loan a bit different than Congress giving the auto industry the money? "

Yes, it is. And if that was the "end all - be all" of this deal, it would be fine.

However, based on the Bush actions of late, I think was just a bridge loan to get them into the obama regime, where they [the big 3] will be given any and everything they want.

It's all about the timing. Bush just wants this off his plate, and labeled it a "loan" to complete the muse. Obama will give them mega-bucks and show the "loan" paid in full to boot.

[lowbridge]

I got the impression his hands were tied, he had to say what he said.

I get the same feeling. He IS a member and representative of this administration. He certainly isnt going to stab Bush in the back by publically going against him.

[Paleo Conservative]

However, based on the Bush actions of late, I think was just a bridge loan to get them into the obama regime

Another "bridge to nowhere"!

[Northern Yankee]

Goodness when are we going to get someone who leads?

I've always liked VP Cheney... but my, oh my!

[avacado]

Could it be that Bush prevented the Democratic Congress and Obama in 2009 from being able to give the auto industry money because they now have the loans? That’s sort of how I see this.

[FrankR]

I hope that is the case...if it is, it was an ingenious move.

[avacado]

"I hope that is the case...if it is, it was an ingenious move."

I hope so too! It's just a guess on my part, but Bush has been known to play a good poker hand against the Democrats.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Goodness when are we going to get someone who leads?

I agree, but Cheney isn't going to stab Bush in the back, he has to support him.

Gentlemen don't play that game and I believe Cheney to be a true gentleman in the classic sense, something that is sadly missing in today's political climate.

[MainFrame65]

I have changed my mind about the plan that Senator Bob Corker tried to negotiate. Whe I first heard about what he was doing I called his office and complained about bailing out the UAW with our tax money, but since then I have learned much more about what he was working on. I also learned that Corker was sabotaged by the White House, and now Cheney has defended that interference.

I called Corker’s office today to apologize for my earlier misinterpretation, and to ask for pardons for Ramos and Compean.

[LetsRok]

Why is Chrysler getting any bailout money?? I thought they were owned by the Germans (Daimler)

[Anti-Bubba182]

Isn’t it disgusting!

[RC2]

I had thought that Daimler backed out a long time ago.

[Northern Yankee]

You're probably be right.

Merry Christmas!

[kitkat]

***Ya....I’m not going to miss this administration until late January. ***

Yep, I’m sure those wonderful socialist dems are gonna make us miss the Bush administration really fast.

[Las Vegas Ron]

And a very Merry Christmas to you too!!

[BooBoo1000]

Within 90 days of the time Blowvator Biden becomes Vice President, you will be wishing Dick Cheney was back. He doesn’t need us, he has a beautiful place, in Wyoming in Jackson Hole Country, plenty of trout to play with, and no need to take the scorn and sour grapes heaped on him by the MSM and the Public. Thanks Dick for 8 years of trying to make sense out of this tangled mess.All of you nay sayers should try to fill his shoes for just one day. Dick Tell them all to go to hell.

[BooBoo1000]

Within 90 days of the time Blowvator Biden becomes Vice President, you will be wishing Dick Cheney was back. He doesn’t need us, he has a beautiful place, in Wyoming in Jackson Hole Country, plenty of trout to play with, and no need to take the scorn and sour grapes heaped on him by the MSM and the Public. Thanks Dick for 8 years of trying to make sense out of this tangled mess.All of you nay sayers should try to fill his shoes for just one day. Dick Tell them all to go to hell.

[BooBoo1000]

Within 90 days of the time Blowvator Biden becomes Vice President, you will be wishing Dick Cheney was back. He doesn’t need us, he has a beautiful place, in Wyoming in Jackson Hole Country, plenty of trout to play with, and no need to take the scorn and sour grapes heaped on him by the MSM and the Public. Thanks Dick for 8 years of trying to make sense out of this tangled mess.All of you nay sayers should try to fill his shoes for just one day. Dick Tell them all to go to hell.

[Proud_texan]

Cerberus Capital Management owns 80% with Daimler still owning 20%.

Cerberus is pretty much a who's who of establishment republicans. John W. Snow (one of Bush's Trea. Sec.) is chairman and Dan Quayle runs one of it's international units.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Whoa, not sure why you posted that to me but I agree with your sentiments.

[BooBoo1000]

Hi Bobbie, I guess you were the last to post and I exploded, what part of L/V do you live in? I live in Green Valley have for years. What do you think of Harry Ried? Good to talk to you

[Las Vegas Ron]

I'm in North West

Harry Reid Sucks

Good to talk to you too

Who's Bobby?

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Lawmakers "had ample opportunity to deal with this issue and they failed," Mr. Cheney said. "The president had no choice but to step in." Riggghht, how dare any senators demand that the bailout have any conditions to protect the taxpayers. Since congress was irresponsible with the Taxpayer Asset Removal Program, why start acting responsibly now?